WALES soccer bosses could find themselves embroiled in a major sponsorship row after signing two conflicting "exclusive" deals on training kit and leisure wear worn by the national team.

WALES soccer bosses could find themselves embroiled in a major sponsorship row after signing two conflicting "exclusive" deals on training kit and leisure wear worn by the national team.

With the popularity of Welsh football reaching an all-time high under national team manager Mark Hughes, leisure wear has become big business and both Nationwide and Carling expect their brand names to be on that product ahead of Wales' August 20 2004 European Championship qualifier with Serbia and Montenegro.

But an investigation by the Echo has learned that team sponsors Nationwide-have exclusive rights to market their brand on Wales' training kit.

And the Echo also understands brewer Carling, which signed a threeyear deal worth &#xA3;500,000 with the Football Association of Wales in March, did so under the impression that it would also be able to market its name on the training kit, track-suits, drill tops and polo shirts worn by the players.

Senior sponsorship manager for Nationwide-Paul Hibbs, confirmed that there was a conflict of interest, saying: "I am aware of a possible issue with the branding of Wales' training kit and we have a contract with the FAW to that effect.

"The fact is that we have an exclusivity right in the contract, but all other contractual matters will be discussed with the FAW and not through a newspaper."

Nationwide has been associated with the

FAW for the past four years and its contract lasts to the end of the 2006

World Cup.

Carling's contract comes into effect next month when a series of high-profile marketing policies will promote its brand name and Welsh football in general. Under Uefa and Fifa rules, no sponsorship is permitted on national teams' shirts.